Song Tao, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, delivered a New Year's message: Firm direction and forge ahead

　　Song Tao, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, published a New Year's message entitled "Firm Direction and Forge Ahead" in the first issue of Cross-Strait Relations magazine in 2024, extending New Year's blessings and sincere greetings to the vast number of Taiwan compatriots.

Firm direction and forge ahead

-- New Year's message to Taiwan compatriots

Song Tao, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

　　On the eve of the 2024 New Year, President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year's message to extend New Year's greetings to the Chinese people at home and abroad, stressing that "the reunification of the motherland is a historical necessity, and compatriots on both sides of the strait should join hands and share the great glory of national rejuvenation." At the beginning of the new year, on behalf of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, I would like to extend New Year's greetings and sincere greetings to the vast number of Taiwan compatriots.

　　2023 is the first year for us to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. In the face of the complex and severe external environment and the arduous and arduous tasks of reform, development and stability, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has united and led the whole party and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country to fight tenaciously and courageously, the economy has rebounded well, high-quality development has been solidly promoted, new breakthroughs have been made in scientific and technological innovation, reform and opening up have been promoted in depth, people's livelihood has been effectively guaranteed, and solid steps have been taken to build a socialist modern country in an all-round way.

　　In 2023, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we will fully implement the party's overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan issue in the new era, firmly grasp the leading power and initiative in cross-strait relations, extensively unite Taiwan compatriots, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and interference by external forces, solidly promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations, firmly promote the process of reunification of the motherland, and make new progress and present a new atmosphere in Taiwan work.

　　Over the past year, we have upheld the concept of "one family on both sides of the strait," followed the common aspirations of our compatriots, and resumed and expanded cross-strait exchanges. General Secretary Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory letters to the 15th Cross-Strait Forum, the 6th Cross-Strait Youth Development Forum, and the 10th Anniversary Annual Conference of the 2023 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit, which has greatly encouraged and encouraged all walks of life on both sides of the strait to stand up for the reunification of the motherland and national rejuvenation. We have led the direction of development of cross-strait relations, profoundly revealed the historical value and practical significance of the "92 Consensus," and guided the Taiwan compatriots to deeply understand the principle that "only when the country is good, the nation is good, and the compatriots on both sides of the strait will be good." We welcome the vast number of Taiwan compatriots to come to the mainland to pay respects to their ancestors, visit and exchange ideas, so that more Taiwan compatriots can observe the development and progress of the mainland, feel the enthusiasm and sincerity of the mainland compatriots, and enhance their common historical memory and emotional resonance. More and more Taiwan compatriots have profoundly realized that only by adhering to the "consensus of '92" and opposing "Taiwan independence" can there be peace in the Taiwan Strait and common development between the two sides of the strait. We recognize that compatriots on both sides of the strait are one family, that exchanges between families are the most important and that harmony is the most valuable, that difficulties can be faced together, differences of opinion can be frankly exchanged, and that the fruits of development can be shared together.

　　Over the past year, we have put the people first, cared about the well-being of our compatriots, and continued to deepen cross-strait integration and development. We have taken care of the concerns of Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises, promptly resolved the registration of some Taiwanese food enterprises, resumed the import of Taiwan's relevant agricultural and fishery products into the mainland, helped Taiwan compatriots to use mobile payment in the mainland, and provided assistance for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises to share the development opportunities of the mainland. We have strengthened the construction of cross-strait cooperation platforms such as the Cross-Strait Industrial Cooperation Zone and the Taiwan Farmers' Pioneer Park, created more highlands for Taiwanese businessmen and enterprises, and helped Taiwan compatriots and enterprises integrate into the new development pattern and participate in high-quality development. In September 2023, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Supporting Fujian to Explore a New Road for Cross-Strait Integrated Development and Build a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone" was officially released, fully reflecting our original intention and policy orientation for the benefit of Taiwan compatriots. Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises continue to be optimistic about the mainland market, full of confidence in the mainland's development prospects and taking root in the mainland, and the cross-strait community with a shared future has become an increasingly vivid reality.

　　Over the past year, we have adhered to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely opposed "Taiwan independence" separatism and interference by external forces. In carrying out the major struggle against separatism and interference, we must resolutely counter the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' provocations to seek "independence" such as undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and obstructing the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and we must resolutely counter the actions of external forces in "using Taiwan to contain China." In the face of the firm will and strong ability of all the Chinese people, any attempt or act of using the Taiwan issue to interfere in China's internal affairs and obstruct the process of China's reunification is doomed to failure. This is an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era, a full manifestation of the current general trend of the development of cross-strait relations, and a common aspiration and mission of compatriots on both sides of the strait.

　　In the new year, we will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the party's overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan issue in the new era, firmly grasp the leading power and initiative in cross-strait relations, conform to the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the strait for peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation, and unswervingly oppose "Taiwan independence," safeguard peace, expand exchanges, promote cooperation, deepen integration, and promote reunification. We will adhere to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," adhere to the "consensus of '92," oppose "Taiwan independence," hold dialogues and consultations with people of insight from all walks of life in Taiwan on issues of concern to both sides of the strait, and jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland. We will continue to promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields, continuously expand cross-strait personnel exchanges, deepen cross-strait integration and development, promote cross-strait joint promotion of Chinese culture, and promote spiritual harmony between compatriots on both sides of the strait. We will persist in providing a broad platform for young people on both sides of the strait to exchange and learn from each other, learn from each other, and develop their careers, welcome young people from Taiwan to come to the mainland to pursue their dreams, build their dreams, and realize their dreams, and continue to contribute their youthful strength to the development of cross-strait relations and the great cause of the motherland's reunification. We will firmly support the patriotic reunification forces on the island, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and interference by external forces, vigorously safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and push cross-strait relations in the right direction of peaceful development.

　　The grand blueprint drawn by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has sounded the clarion call for the new journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and Chinese-style modernization has opened up a broad space and provided huge opportunities for the development and cooperation of compatriots on both sides of the strait. "The way of all benefits, walk with the times". The broad masses of Taiwan compatriots should observe the general trend, shoulder the great righteousness, take into account the overall situation, take the road of the road, firmly stand on the right side of history, push cross-strait relations back to the right track of peaceful development, and push forward the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland. We firmly believe that as long as the compatriots on both sides of the strait unite as one and work hand in hand, they will certainly be able to jointly create a bright future for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and accomplish the great cause of the motherland's reunification.

[Source: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council]

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